Just when it appeared that Leeds United's patience had finally been exhausted and hopes of a breakthrough had expired, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink finally found a way through the mesh-like Maritimo defence last night.
Only six minutes remained of a match that Leeds had controlled with imaginative, intelligent football when Hasselbaink carefully side-footed in following an 18-yard free-kick which the substitute Lee Sharpe had touched on.
On a night when Leeds delivered some elaborate passing, it was a direct finish that proved more effective and George Graham will no doubt remind his players that the return leg on the sunshine island of Madeira will be no holiday.
Maritimo may have been participating in only their third European tie in the club's 88-year history but all three have been in the past five seasons.
Their recent success has been founded on a miserly defence and evidence of that priority came in a first half of constant Leeds pressure that nevertheless saw the Maritimo goalkeeper Yves Vanderstraeten make only one save of note.
For Leeds it proved a disappointing climax to a five-man move. On 14 minutes Martin Hiden was given freedom on the right and David Hopkin stepped over his low cross. Two Maritimo defenders were fooled, enabling Clyde Wijnhard to swivel and shoot, but the ball deflected off Vanderstraeten's boot.
Further dangerous long-range efforts followed from Ian Harte and Lee Bowyer but the interval brought with it frustration, personified by Graham's protests to the referee about at least one Leeds penalty claim that had been denied.
Graham's annoyance was understandable, though not entirely over doubtful refereeing. Leeds deserved to be in front, but there was no quick reward on the restart, either, when the anxiety increased further as Hopkin seized on Hasselbaink's clipped pass on the hour only to strike the bottom of a post with Vanderstraeten well beaten.
Leeds United (4-4-2): Martyn; Hiden, Molenaar, Rabebe, Harte; Hopkin (Sharpe, 76min), Bowyer, Haaland (Ribeiro, 67), Kewell; Wijnhard (Lilley, 61), Hasselbaink.
Maritimo (5-3-2): Vanderstraeten; Viana, Sergio, Dantas, Soares, Sousa; Silva, Antonio, Duveau (Moreira, 55); Lopes (Cruz, 67), Bunbury.
Referee: A Sars (France).
